A BODIPY-based OFF-ON fluorescent probe for fast and selective detection of hypochlorite in living cells

A boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY)-based fluorescent probe bearing a tellurium atom was developed for fast and selective detection of hypochlorite (ClO-). Its molecular structure was firstly determined by X-ray diffraction analysis, indicating that the divalent tellurium formed a relatively small angle of 96.6(8)degrees and thus its electrons were easily oxidized. This probe could fast respond to ClO- and a strong green fluorescence appeared, attributing to oxidation of the tellurium and thereby inhibition of photoinduced electron transfer of the tellurium to the BODIPY. A linear fluorescence change was observed in the ClO--concentration range of 0-8 mu M with a detection limit of 0.12 mu M. This probe was found to be applicable in a broad pH range (4-12). Confocal fluorescence microscopy imaging in RAW264.7 and HepG2 cells showed a remarkable green fluorescence enhancement with ClO-. This change could be also observed with phorbol myristate acetate-induced HClO. These results demonstrated that this probe could be an efficient fluorescent probe for ClO- detection in living cells.